MSI MEG X670E Ace: Prime Gun efficiency in your Ryzen CPU

Should you’re seeking to get one in all AMD’s new Ryzen 7000 CPUs and need to maximize it, you may additionally desire a premium motherboard. 

Enter the MSI MEG X670E Ace. Underlying its smooth however imposing aesthetics, you’ll discover a hearty providing of options: 10GbE LAN, PCIe Gen 5, and loads of M.2 slots. This motherboard is geared in the direction of the fanatic gamer and content material creator. Does this “Ace” actually ship? 

We’ll comb the specs, and focus on options, efficiency, and design aesthetics. Should you’re constructing a high-end enthusiast-grade desktop with the quickest Ryzen 7000 CPUs, is that this the motherboard of alternative over its opponents? Let’s discover out!

MSI MEG X670E Ace: The specs

The MSI MEG X670E Ace is critical enterprise, beginning with AM5 help—you’ll want a brand new AMD CPU such because the Ryzen 9 7950X. The excellent news is that you just’ll have the ability to use your previous AM4 cooler, if it makes use of the unique AMD backplate—in any other case you’ll want a brand new AM5-specific model. 

The board is E-ATX, that means it is going to be bigger than your typical ATX motherboard, with measurements of 277×304.8mm (10.9×12 inches), so case measurement will probably be necessary. 

PCIe Gen 5 and DDR5 are right here, to not point out an extended listing of nice I/O, such a 10GbE LAN, and a number of USB ports. 

The unboxing expertise is sweet, and for an MSRP of $699, it does include just a few attention-grabbing equipment: an M.2 Xpander-Z PCIe Gen 5 card, a USB drive, just a few cable stickers, and the standard cables. No fancy field like we noticed with the $499 X670E Asrock Taichi, however that’s not too related. (Sorry, field fanatics!)

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• E-ATX kind issue 
• Helps AMD AM5 Ryzen 7000 CPUs 
• 22+2+1 Section Design with 8-layer PCB
• DDR5 RAM, twin channel as much as 4 DIMMs (as much as 128GB)
• 4x onboard M.2 slots (1x PCIe Gen 5)
• 2x M.2 slots on Xpander-Z PCIe Gen 5 card  
• 3x PCIe 16x Slot (PCIe Gen 5, 8x/8x/4x) 
• Kind-C show out 
• 11 USB ports on again Together with 20Gb/s 
• Marvel 10GbE LAN
• AMD Wi-Fi 6E 
• RGB headers for Mystic Mild
• 6 SATA 6Gb/s ports 
• 8 PWM fan headers 
• BIOS Flashback, Clear CMOS, and Sensible Button
• Preinstalled I/O defend 
• Realtek 7.1 ALC 4082 audio, ESS ES9280AQ combo DAC
• MSRP $699

MSI MEG X670E Ace: Options

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Coming in at $699, that is an enthusiast-grade, premium motherboard. The X670E chipset means that it’ll have essentially the most sturdy PCIe Gen 5 help you’ll discover for AM5, and that reveals: Three 16x PCIe Gen 5 lanes (cut up 8x/8x/4x if you happen to use all three) means you’ll be able to add PCIe playing cards alongside your next-generation GPU. 

Fortunate for you, MSI consists of an Xpander-Z PCIe Gen 5 M.2 card for that very function! If the 4 onboard M.2 slots weren’t sufficient (with one being PCIe Gen 5), you’ll be able to increase a further two on the cardboard itself. Whereas most players might not want six M.2 drives, heavy-usage content material creators will love this (plus six SATA ports, as properly).

MSI additionally makes these M.2 slots “screwless,” which is a bonus function for many who don’t like miniscule screws! Together with the built-in I/O defend, this helps make for an gratifying construct expertise.

USB ports are plentiful right here, with 11 on the rear, together with USB 3.2 Gen 2 at 20Gb/s. USB 4 isn’t included right here, which is a disgrace contemplating the worth level. Different opponents such because the Asus ROG X670E Hero do have USB4. 

To compensate, MSI does provide you with 10GbE LAN, which content material creators will admire for NAS or different sturdy networking setups. Nonetheless, USB4 could be a pleasant premium function right here for that very same crowd, too. Wi-Fi 6E with an included antenna is an anticipated—and included—accent at this value level.

Audio is nice, with Realtek’s ALC 4082 codec and ESS ES92280AQ combo DAC. You’ll additionally get a headphone amp for working higher-impedance cans. That is implausible audio for many who don’t need extra peripherals and like to maintain it streamlined throughout the motherboard itself.

Clear CMOS and BIOS Flash buttons are included, in addition to a “smart button.”  You’ll additionally get a debug LED, which is useful, however at this value level, we’d wish to see a much bigger digital readout display screen. 

A USB Kind-C display-out on the again can also be included, because the Ryzen 7000 CPUs have in-built iGPUs. We’d moderately see at the very least an HDMI port right here, as this serves primarily for diagnostics with no discrete GPU, and HDMI has wider compatibility than USB Kind C for this use case.

With only a few compromises, the MSI MEG X670E Ace is awash with options. For purely players, this will even embrace some overkill—particularly issues such because the six M.2 slots and 10GbE LAN. (Until your Steam Library is gigantic, then our apologies!) Hybrid content material creators/players will love the options although, without having to step as much as much more premium choices such because the “Godlike” mannequin.

MSI MEG X670E Ace: Design

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The MSI MEG X670E Ace is straight away eye-catching with its blacked-out design and gold accents. It’s fairly the looker, with RGB on—or off!

This design isn’t simply right here to wow you—it additionally serves a useful obligation. The M.2 “Frozr” slot defend has thermal pads serving to to maintain them cool—and even the PCIe slots are bolstered. The varied heatsinks all through additionally look nice and have helpful utility, too.

Heading right down to the decrease proper, you’ll discover the PCH space properly bolstered—with some good design patterns and gold accents. You’ll additionally get some RGB mild results on the phrase “ACE” and on a triangle within the decrease space. The aesthetics are easy, however extremely efficient on this motherboard.

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The higher VRM heatsink space isn’t solely beefy, however completely joins the MSI “Dragon” on the I/O defend. It lights up in RGB giving it a tasteful pop of coloration amid the extra critical design parts.

We’re pleased to see the inclusion of a backplate right here for this premium providing. Whereas it might not essentially do a lot, it does give the motherboard a high-end tactile really feel within the fingers and provides a little bit of safety. It does assist settle down MOSFETS as its main operate, so it’s not all simply within the appears!

The built-in I/O defend continues the darkish look with gold accents, and purple coloured usb ports. This makes for simpler studying when put in, and total appears clear and useful. The highest of the I/O defend additionally appears nice, persevering with the design theme with the RGB infused dragon.

MSI MEG X670E Ace: Efficiency, software program, and BIOS

How does the MSI MEG X670E Ace ship on efficiency for each players and content material creators? Like a real “Ace,” it appears! First, the sturdy VRM of twenty-two+2+1 will deal with the Ryzen 9 7950X with ease. It additionally provides an eight-layer PCB and beefy cooling elements. In actual fact, you’ll be extra prone to hit thermal limits in your CPU cooler than on something motherboard associated—it’s greater than overkill! 

Heatsinks, stacked fin arrays, warmth pipes, a steel backplate, and “Frozr M.2” options are considerable in all places on this motherboard. This helps hold efficiency optimum—be it for the CPU, M.2 slots, or with MOSFET cooling. Subsequent-generation {hardware} is placing out extra efficiency—and much more warmth—than ever. 

Prime-speed DDR5 RAM is right here and also you’ll get high speeds out of your drives, as as much as three of them can help PCIe Gen 5, and the others PCIe Gen 4. That is a few of the quickest efficiency you’ll discover, interval. Should you plan on including quick PCIe Gen 5 add-in playing cards alongside your GPU, having these three 16x slots might show fruitful for you in the long term—however for customers not making use of this, it might be unnecessarily including to the general value. All three 16x slots are linked to the CPU, too. 

The one efficiency space—if you happen to can name it that—that we’d wish to see beefed up could be in including USB4 for many who want it. In any other case, you continue to get a really quick 20Gb/s USB. 

Should you’d wish to push efficiency a bit additional, the MSI BIOS is simple to make use of. On this motherboard, you’ll get extra tweaking choices than you’ll possible ever use, reminiscent of numerous choices for CPU and RAM tinkering. This technology Ryzen 7000 might profit extra from “Eco Mode” sort changes to take care of efficiency for much less energy draw. The standard “overclock to the max” sort of tinkering we could also be used to isn’t at all times one of the best route.  

For individuals who simply desire a “set it and forget it” method, the MSI BIOS additionally does that competently—reminiscent of setting the Expo RAM profiles for max DDR5 efficiency out of the field. You may also set to mechanically overclock your CPU, with AMD’s Precision Increase Overdrive (PBO) together with MSI’s assist, too. 

Since AM5 is a brand new platform which will encounter some rising pains, we’d advocate updating the BIOS as it might result in extra stability enhancements than you’d sometimes have to do on a extra mature platform. MSI makes that simple within the BIOS, too!

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If you wish to hold a few of that customization on the software program facet, now we have MSI’s Heart software program accessible. Very similar to Asus Armoury Crate, this goals to be an all-in-one answer for numerous duties. Setting RGB Mystic Mild profiles, totally different fan curves, and even some {hardware} monitoring. You may also get driver updates with out having to examine the MSI web site. 

Whereas motherboard software program reminiscent of this has been vastly bettering, we nonetheless advocate the BIOS or third-party software program for some capabilities reminiscent of fan management, {hardware} monitoring, and so forth.

Must you purchase the MSI MEG X670E Ace?

Coming in at $699, the MSI MEG X670E Ace isn’t low cost—and has different competitors from motherboards such because the Asus ROG X670E Hero. It falls right into a little bit of an odd world with its pricing and have set. 

The design is engaging, and functionally integrates properly with nice cooling options on the motherboard itself. The function set is wealthy for players, however appears to be much more wealthy for content material creators. 10GbE LAN, loads of I/O, and nice audio are all right here. We’d wish to see USB4, nevertheless, particularly at this degree of motherboard. 

The excellent news continues with an onslaught of M.2 drive help, however we begin to see a sample develop right here: There are numerous options which may be pointless for a pure gamer use case, which doesn’t name require the content-creator type additions at $699. With platform prices being increased on common with AMD’s AM5, it might make some cheaper motherboards simply as engaging for pure players—reminiscent of MSI’s personal X670E Carbon, Asrock X670E Taichi, or the Asus X670E Strix at underneath $500. 

Total, it’s a premium motherboard providing from MSI that delivers on its execution and aesthetics. It properly completes a high-end Ryzen 7000 construct for players—and much more so those that are additionally content material creators.